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Thursday, July 17, 2008
Huffington: Obama, remain true to self
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Columnist Arianna Huffington urges Barack Obama to decide what he stands for and stick to it.
“Obama doesn’t need to go down a checklist of progressive issues and mark “yes” next to each one,” she writes. “His job is not to please the disaffected voter profiled in The New York Times who has decided to vote for the Green Party candidate, or Bob Fertik of Democrats.com, who has raised over $101,000 for Obama — but has put it in an escrow account, payable once Obama demonstrates “a firm commitment to progressive values.” He needs to remain true to himself — and, above all, to make it clear that he will not lead by sticking his finger in the air to see which way the political wind is blowing.”
She continues, “A real leader lights the way for others. That’s why I respect the leadership of Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) - even though we disagree on more issues than we agree on. But on the seminal issue of our time — Iraq — he followed his heart and his gut and stood up to his own party. That’s leadership.”
Do you agree?
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